Introduction
Pantry organization tips can save you time, money and a lot of frustration. A pantry holds dozens of small items with different shelf lives, so it gets messy fast, and it is hard to use what you have before it goes stale. In this guide, you’ll find seven simple ways to make the most of your space, from shelf height and matching containers to labels and snack stations, plus a quick step-by-step plan to get started.
Customize Shelf Height
If you are planning to organize pantry from scratch then you can customize the shelf height according to what you stock. You can talk with your designer and add some large shelves for storing buckets and similar big-sized items alongside the standard-sized shelves.
Add Charm To The Space
If you are brainstorming ideas for organizing pantry on a budget then you can start by adding a cheerful wallpaper. This can make the place look more attractive while providing you with greater motivation to keep the place neat.
Separate Containers For Dry Goods
For a more coordinated look, take all dry items out of their storage boxes and keep them in identical canisters.
Add Labels
Guesswork can add to the existing chore of keeping your pantry organized. It’s better to add labels so that you can easily make out the constituents of different jars without having to open the lid time and again. This is especially helpful if you get wooden or steel storage boxes. While labeling it’s advisable to use a paint pen so that you can scrub it off using some soap if you want to put in different items.
Create Snack Stations
Kids adore snacks but they might create a mess every time they invade the pantry in search of snacks. It’s better to create snack stations so that they can find their favorite snacks easily while minimizing the chances of mess.
Utilize Every Inch
The biggest problem with pantry organization is that we fail to utilize every corner such as space above or below the shelves. You can counter this common problem by filling in big-sized baskets that can be pulled out for easy access. These baskets can help store your common necessities such as paper towels, toilet paper, and canned food items.
Remove Clutter
Before you start organizing your pantry you should empty your shelves. In this way, you can take stock of all your belongings before throwing out the expired ones and adding the ones having depleting stocks to your shopping cart.
How to Organize a Pantry Step by Step
If you are not sure where to start, follow these five steps.
- Empty the shelves completely. This is the only way to see what you actually own.
- Check what you have. Throw out food that shows signs of spoilage and discard dented, rusted or swollen cans.
- Group similar items together, such as baking supplies, canned goods, breakfast foods and snacks.
- Give each group a home. Put the things you use every day at eye level, and keep heavy items on lower shelves.
- Label the shelves and containers, and put newer items behind older ones so you use the older ones first.
Every few months, take five minutes to check your shelves and put things back where they belong. This keeps your pantry organization tips working long after the first big clean.
Only the point about dented, rusted and swollen cans and signs of spoilage comes from the USDA page I opened. The rest is general organizing advice.
Conclusion
A well-stocked pantry can guarantee you peace of mind as you won’t have to carry out a scavenger hunt every time you want to grab a bag of chips or your favorite cookie. While the different pantry organization tips shared above can help you make the most of your available space, you can also try and create more storage. Repurposing a cabinet, adding a freestanding cabinet and using wire shelving can help create space for your overflowing pantry items.
